Disclosed are composite materials and methods of making them. The composite materials comprise a support member and a cross-linked gel, wherein the cross-linked gel is a polymer synthesized by thiol-ene or thiol-yne polymerization and cross-linking. The cross-linked gel may be functionalized by a thiol-ene or thiol-yne grafting reaction, either simultaneously with the polymerization or as the second step in a two-step procedure. The composite materials are useful as chromatographic separation media.

The present disclosure provides a polymer, including a first repeating unit represented by formula (I), a second repeating unit represented by formula (II), and a third repeating unit represented by formula (III). The first repeating unit, the second repeating unit, and the third repeating unit are arranged in an alternating fashion, in a random fashion, or in discrete blocks. The molar ratio of the first repeating unit, the second repeating unit and the third repeating unit is m:n:o, and m:(n+o) is from 60:40 to 85:15. The definitions of a, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, A.sup., and R.sup.+ are as defined in the specification.

In one aspect, a composite membrane comprises a polymeric host comprising polybenzimidazole or polybenzimidazole derivative and graphene oxide dispersed in the polymeric host, the graphene oxide at least partially functionalized with phosphonic acid moieties, phosphonate moieties or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the functionalized graphene oxide is homogeneously dispersed in the polymeric host and/or is not agglomerated in the polymeric host.

In one aspect, a composite membrane comprises a polymeric host comprising polybenzimidazole or polybenzimidazole derivative and graphene oxide dispersed in the polymeric host, the graphene oxide at least partially functionalized with phosphonic acid moieties, phosphonate moieties or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the functionalized graphene oxide is homogeneously dispersed in the polymeric host and/or is not agglomerated in the polymeric host.

Disclosed are composite materials and methods of making them. The composite materials comprise a support member and a cross-linked gel, wherein the cross-linked gel is a polymer synthesized by thiol-ene or thiol-yne polymerization and cross-linking. The cross-linked gel may be functionalized by a thiol-ene or thiol-yne grafting reaction, either simultaneously with the polymerization or as the second step in a two-step procedure. The composite materials are useful as chromatographic separation media.

Disclosed are composite materials and methods of making them. The composite materials comprise a support member and a cross-linked gel, wherein the cross-linked gel is a polymer synthesized by thiol-ene or thiol-yne polymerization and cross-linking. The cross-linked gel may be functionalized by a thiol-ene or thiol-yne grafting reaction, either simultaneously with the polymerization or as the second step in a two-step procedure. The composite materials are useful as chromatographic separation media.

The invention discloses a separation matrix for purification of biomacromolecules, comprising a plurality of particles (1) having a core region (2) and a shell region (3), wherein: a) said shell region is accessible to a target biomacromolecule; b) said core region is less accessible to the target biomacromolecule than the shell region; and c) the core region comprises a grafted polymer comprising residues of at least one polymerizable monomer.

The invention discloses a separation matrix for purification of biomacromolecules, comprising a plurality of particles (1) having a core region (2) and a shell region (3), wherein: a) said shell region is accessible to a target biomacromolecule; b) said core region is less accessible to the target biomacromolecule than the shell region; and c) the core region comprises a grafted polymer comprising residues of at least one polymerizable monomer.

The present invention provides a process for preparing a functionalised polymeric chromatography medium, which process comprises (I) providing two or more non-woven sheets stacked one on top of the other, each said sheet comprising one or more polymer nanofibres, (II) simultaneously heating and pressing the stack of sheets to fuse points of contact between the nanofibres of adjacent sheets, and (III) contacting the pressed and heated product with a reagent which functionalises the product of step (II) as a chromatography medium.

The present invention provides a process for preparing a functionalised polymeric chromatography medium, which process comprises (I) providing two or more non-woven sheets stacked one on top of the other, each said sheet comprising one or more polymer nanofibres, (II) simultaneously heating and pressing the stack of sheets to fuse points of contact between the nanofibres of adjacent sheets, and (III) contacting the pressed and heated product with a reagent which functionalises the product of step (II) as a chromatography medium.